There is plenty to keep you entertained, educated and civically engaged this week in Richmond and nearby communities.
Highlights include: A Lunar New Year celebration, the premiere of a documentary about former Richmond Mayor Nathanial Bates, a “thumb piano” performance at the library and a business community breakfast with the new police chief.
For more, see our list of ongoing things to do (many of which are free). Also, don’t forget to add your events to our free community calendar.
- Black History celebration includes wine and art
- Is it recyclable? Learn how to sort your trash more accurately
- Enjoy an evening walk along the Richmond Marina
- Social gathering with music, comedy and poetry
- City snow day rescheduled to Friday
- City luncheon celebrates the Lunar New Year
- Documentary on former Richmond Mayor Nathaniel Bates premieres
- Discussion on the benefits of public art
- Library hosts musical program featuring African thumb pianos
- Class provides guidance on the ‘right plants in the right place’
- Meet Democratic congressional candidates at upcoming forum
- Indivisible West CoCo County hosting monthly community meeting
- African Drum Circle with Mr. Boom Boom
- Forum introduces teens to careers in law enforcement
- Meet the new police chief at Chamber breakfast
- Final outreach meeting on new MLK Jr. center
- Community strategy meeting for Humphrey Park
- Black cowboy stories at Richmond’s main library
- Related stories
Black History celebration includes wine and art
Enjoy wine while you admire art at a fundraising event for the Nia Academy in Richmond.
Multicultural Books and Gifts is hosting the Paint & Sip Party as a Black History Month celebration.
A $15 donation is requested for the evening of “fun, food and drink.”
Paint & Sip Party, Fri., Feb. 20, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Multicultural bookstore, 260 Broadway. $15.
Is it recyclable? Learn how to sort your trash more accurately
You can learn how to recycle more accurately and efficiently at a city-sponsored workshop.
At the Richmond Recycling Training Refresher course, citizens can learn about properly sorting waste and find out about state and local laws and available recycling resources.
The free training is offered in-person as well as on Zoom.
Richmond Recycling Training Refresher, Fri, Feb. 20, 11 a.m. to noon, City Council Chamber Room, 440 Civic Center Plaza. Free.
Enjoy an evening walk along the Richmond Marina
The Berkeley Path Wanderers Association has organized an evening walk along the Richmond Marina.
The casual stroll is being led by Alina Constantinescu, a Richmond resident and president of the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association.
Participants will gather at the restrooms near the parking lot at Marina Bay Park. The 3-mile walk will be along the Bay Trail. Dogs on leash are welcome to come along.
Evening Walk at the Richmond Marina, Fri., Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Marina Bay Park, Richmond. Free.
Social gathering with music, comedy and poetry
The community is invited to an evening of stand-up comedy, live music and poetry readings in downtown Richmond.
The Y.S.I.O. Social Lounge and CoBiz Richmond have organized the monthly gatherings to provide fun for a group or entertainment for a date night.
Y.S.I.O. Social Lounge evening, Fri., Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., CoBiz Richmond, 1503 Macdonald Ave., Suite A. $50; must be 21 or older.
City snow day rescheduled to Friday
The city snow play day originally scheduled for Wednesday is set to take place on Friday.
The city is sponsoring a free family Snow Day with artificial snow covering the ground.
Activities include music, games, rock climbing and snow-related events. Food will also be available for purchase.
Snow Day, Fri., Feb. 20, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nicholl Park, 3230 Macdonald Ave. Free.
City luncheon celebrates the Lunar New Year
Richmond residents can welcome in the Lunar New Year at a city-sponsored event.
The 2026 New Year Luncheon will feature an afternoon of culture, community and celebration.
Organizers urge citizens to be “part of a joyful tradition and help us ring in the new year with energy and togetherness.”
Entertainment and light refreshments will be provided. The event is free, but attendees must register in advance.
2026 Lunar New Year Luncheon, Sat., Feb. 21, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza. Free.
Documentary on former Richmond Mayor Nathaniel Bates premieres
The world premiere of a documentary about former Richmond City Council member Nathaniel Bates will be held at Contra Costa College this weekend.
The 90-minute documentary, “Birth of a City: The Story of the Honorable Nathaniel Bates,” takes an in-depth look at the political career of the former mayor.
Nathaniel Bates was first elected to the Richmond City Council in 1967. He served twice as mayor before retiring in 2022. At that time, he was the nation’s oldest elected official at the age of 91.
Bates, now 94, is credited with helping to develop Hilltop Mall as well as playing critical roles in the construction of Interstate 580 and the Richmond Marina.
The free screening will include a red carpet walk before the documentary and a question-and-answer session with the cast after the screening.
“Birth of a City: The Story of the Honorable Nathaniel Bates,” Sat., Feb. 21, 2:30 p.m., Knox Center for the Performing Arts, Contra Costa College, 2600 Mission Bell Drive, San Pablo. Free.
Discussion on the benefits of public art
A group of established artists will discuss the power and benefits of public art displays.
The Art of the African Diaspora: Public Art in Our Communities panel will include wire sculptor Kristine Mays, sculptor and painter James Moore, arts administrator Denise Pate and muralist and illustrator Malik Seneferu.
The discussion will be moderated by Florence Wiley, the chief executive officer of Spirit & Image Entertainment.
The panelists will discuss how public art enriches communities. They will also advise artists on funding, fabrication and installation.
Art of the African Diaspora: Public Art in Our Communities, Sat., Feb. 21, noon to 1:30 p.m., Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave. Free.
Library hosts musical program featuring African thumb pianos
Courtesy of Carl Winters
You can listen to jazz and freedom songs played on African thumb pianos known as kalimbas at the library branch in Point Richmond.
The free event will feature Kalimba King Carl Winters as he performs musical numbers on 12 kalimbas.
Winters’ music ranges from jazz to pops to blues to educational songs.
Jazz and freedom songs with Kalimba King, Sat., Feb. 21, 11 a.m. to noon, West Side Branch Library, 135 Washington Ave. Free.
Class provides guidance on the ‘right plants in the right place’
Learn where plants should be located in your yard at a free class at the Curious Flora nursery.
Ann Marie Benz, the horticulture program manager for the California Native Plant Society, will lead the course “The Right Plant for the Right Place.”
The core of the class will cover selecting the best native plants to grow in “tricky spots” in your yard.
The Right Plant for the Right Place class, Sat., Feb. 21, 1 p.m., Curious Flora nursery, 740 Market Ave. Free.
Meet Democratic congressional candidates at upcoming forum
Voters can hear from the Democratic candidates running for the congressional seat that represents Richmond and other west Contra Costa County communities plus El Cerrito.
Indivisible East Bay has helped organize the Meet Your Candidates forum in Pinole so residents can hear the priorities and positions of the candidates for the District 8 seat now held by Rep. John Garamendi.
Garamendi is scheduled to attend along with three other candidates: Nicholas Carjuzaa, Harinder Lamba and Aaron Rowden.
The filing deadline for the 8th congressional district election is March 6. The Democratic primary is June 2. The general election is Nov. 3.
There is a maximum capacity of 150 attendees, so organizers are asking people to sign up in advance. The exact location of the event is given out at registration.
Eighth congressional district candidates’ forum, Sat., Feb. 21, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pinole. Free. Registration required.
Indivisible West CoCo County hosting monthly community meeting
Leaders of the political action group Indivisible West CoCo County are hosting their monthly community gathering.
The event organizers said the purpose of the meeting is “to work on our plan to defend democracy, protect our neighbors and progressive values in San Francisco’s East Bay.”
The group also hosts “Good Trouble” protests every Friday afternoon at the corner of San Pablo Dam Road and Appian Way in El Sobrante.
Indivisible West CoCo County community meeting, Sun., Feb. 22, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Good Table Café, 5166 Sobrante Ave., El Sobrante. Free.
African Drum Circle with Mr. Boom Boom
Drums are not usually welcome inside a library, but they will be the center of an educational and entertaining session at the Bayview Branch.
The library will host the African Drum Circle with Mr. Boom Boom to transport young children to the heart of West Africa.
Mister Boom Boom, also known as Frank Coates, is currently on a national tour performing authentic West African hand drums to take kindergartners and first-graders on a rhythmic journey.
During these performances, children learn the basics of drumming as well as teamwork and self-expression.
African Drum Circle with Mr. Boom Boom, Mon., Feb. 23, 11 a.m. to noon, Bayview Branch Library, 5100 Hartnett Ave. Free.
Forum introduces teens to careers in law enforcement
Middle and high school students can learn more about potential careers in public safety and law enforcement at a career night.
Go Public Schools and the Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL) have teamed up to present the California Early and Often session.
This forum will focus on careers in law enforcement such as police officers, investigators, lawyers and judges.
The session is tailed for students in seventh through 12th grade. They’ll learn about careers in law and public safety from professionals and how to prepare for these careers.
The career night is free, but attendees are required to register. Dinner will be provided after the session.
California Early and Often law enforcement session, Tue., Feb. 24, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., RPAL, 2200 Macdonald Ave. Free
Meet the new police chief at Chamber breakfast
Business leaders and community members are invited to sit down with Richmond Police Chief Timothy Simmons at an upcoming breakfast meeting.
The Richmond Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the gathering to kick off its 2026 Business Roundtable Breakfast series.
Simmons will discuss public safety, business concerns and how law enforcement can work with local leaders.
Chamber Roundtable Breakfast with police Chief Timothy Simmons, Tue., Feb. 24, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., Hilltop Courtyard Marriott, 3150 Garrity Way. $20 to $25.
Final outreach meeting on new MLK Jr. center
City officials are holding a final outreach meeting about the design of the new Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center.
The meeting is designed to gather input from residents on the $750,000 project.
Those in attendance will be asked to share ideas and vote on preferred architectural styles and program elements for the future center and park.
A conceptual design is expected to be submitted this spring.
The original community center at 360 Harbour Way South was demolished in 2010 after it suffered major damage from vandalism and flooding.
MLK Park community outreach meeting, Wed., Feb. 25, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Nystrom Elementary School multipurpose room, 230 Harbour Way South. Free.
Community strategy meeting for Humphrey Park
Richmond residents are invited to attend a strategy meeting to help plan the future of Humphrey Park at 26th Street and Humphrey Avenue.
The gathering has been organized by FIERCE Advocates, a nonprofit dedicated to amplifying the voice of Black, Latinx and other parents and caregivers of color.
Organizers of the strategy meeting said its purpose is to “activate community power to ensure Humphrey Playlot reflects the needs, voices and leadership of those who live nearby.”
Food and childcare will be provided.
Humphrey Park Strategy Meeting, Wed., Feb. 25, 6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m., FIERCE Advocates Health and Healing Center, 312 9th St. Free.
Black cowboy stories at Richmond’s main library
You can learn about the history of Black cowboys at a library presentation.
The Black Cowboys at the Library gathering will feature Black cowboys who will share stories about famous Black horsemen and horsewomen in the western United States.
Attendees can also meet a horse and a pony and learn how they’re cared for.
Black Cowboys at the Library, Thur., Feb. 26, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Auditorium Branch Library, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. Free.
For more, see our list of ongoing things to do (many of which are free). Also, don’t forget to add your events to our free community calendar.
